Broncos get Quinn on the cheap

Providing Kyle Orton takes at least 31 percent of the snaps as the Broncos’ quarterback in 2010, Denver would only have to pay newly acquired quarterback Brady Quinn a $700,000 salary this year and $700,000 in 2012.

Quinn does have a one-time, $5.9 million escalator bonus that would automatically trigger if he takes 70 percent of the snaps in 2010. Quinn never hit the one-time escalator in his first three seasons, when he collected $7.8 million of the five-year, $9.2 million he received as the Browns’ second, first-round draft choice, No. 22 overall, in 2007.

An NFL source said Orton would be the Broncos’ starting quarterback in 2010. Brady has only started 12 games through his first three NFL seasons and is coming off a season-ending foot injury. While contracts rarely are factored in to picking a winner in a competition at the pivotal position of quarterback, it may help Orton break a tie.

The trade for Quinn _ which sent running back Peyton Hillis, a sixth-round draft choice in 2011 and a conditional draft choice in 2012 _ won’t become official until Quinn passes a physical Monday at the Broncos’ headquarters.

The Broncos will simultaneously begin their voluntary offseason conditioning program. Orton won’t be there to welcome his new quarterback mate. Orton is in Hawaii attending the annual NFL Players Association meetings.

The addition of Quinn may affect the status of veteran backup Chris Simms, and Tom Brandstater, a sixth round pick out of Fresno State who did not play as a rookie last season.

Orton, a five-year player who lost his leverage as an unrestricted free agent this year because of the new uncapped system for the 2010 season, was tendered a a one-year, $2.621 million contract as a restricted free agent earlier this month.

Although frustrated at getting pigeonholed as a restricted free agent, Orton said he would report to the team’s offseason conditioning program following his player-rep obligations in Hawaii.

nice move McD……….BQ has the skills to preform in this system …..i don't believe BQ was given a great chance to succed in the dog pound…………..we can get 10 to 12 years out of this young kid……its just what the Broncos needed…………GREAT MOVE…………………

Derek

I think Quinn will be a Chief by draft day, this is McDaniel's way of getting Cassel back, by holding the one piece of the puzzle that Charlie Weiss wants

NavyBSU_fan

Wow! We got a QB that could be a starter for us and didn't give up a single draft pick in this year's draft? I think this could be a great sign that McD and X are going to be the used car salesmen of the NFL for years to come. Or Quinn could turn out to be a sally, be out of the NFL in a few years and our coach becomes the pimple faced teenage boy looking for his first used car.In either case we didn't give away the franchise to get Brady Quinn. My 3 year old son (or even my 5 month old) would be a better back up than Chris Simms. Sorry, but Simms just doesn't have it anymore. We need to drop his expensive back up contract and cut him. Go Broncos!

orton better hope he doesn’t get injured because quinn is going to be a real nice surprise for the fans in denver. everyone in cleveland was disappointed he didn’t work out but we realized not only did he get treated extremely shabby by mangini, but when he got in he had nothing to work with. no blocking, no receivers. I was no fan of dawreck anderson but it was no coincidence that he couldn’t do squat either. it wouldn’t surprise me to see him take over for orton by midyear. and go ahead and laugh but I’m guessing this guy is gonna be your next john elway for years to come. good luck, denver.

keepitorange

I'm a lifetime Browns fan who was very disappointed to see Brady Quinn go. He never had a decentchance to show what he could do in Cleveland, but never complained. He worked with the weakestreceiving corps in the league and the quarterback position was totally mismanaged by head coachEric Mangini. The Broncos were very smart to pick him up. I hope the guy gets the chance to showwhat he can do……… He deserves a lot better than what he got from the Browns.

matt

neck beard all the way

Lou

no truer words were spoken. I also witnessed the mismanagement of BQ. Lets hope we get tosee what he can do with all the great support that is happening with the Broncos and of courseJosh McDaniels has a great talent for handling QBs. Go Broncos

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.